Economic Benefits:

Recycling used materials and products is paramount for Canadian business and the economy. Research has shown the recycling industry creates 10 times more employment and revenue than the waste industry. An informal survey by CARI of the Canadian recycling industry concluded it directly employs approximately 34,000 Canadian workers, and indirectly creates jobs for approximately 85,000 Canadians.

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Environmental &

Economic Benefits of Recycling

P.O. Box 67094 Westboro, Ottawa, Ontario K2A 4E4

1-613-728-6946 www.cari-acir.org

CONTACT Canadian Association of Recycling Industries    

Please visit our website for more information: cari-acir.org

Using recycled material helps manufacturers reduce production costs and makes them more competitive. The industry drives the innovation of new technologies and products, which is vital to economic growth. In 2016 Canadian recyclers exported approximately $3.6 billion (CAD) worth of metals.

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                     @CARI_Recycling        

   

Recyclable materials are not waste

“The recycling industry saves up to 700 million tonnes of CO2 per year, which adds up to several billion tonnes over past decades.” - Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) World President Ranjit Baxi CO2 reductions using recycled materials is up to:

• 99% for tin

• 92% for aluminum

• 90% for nickel

• 65% for copper

• 58% for ferrous

• Environmental legislation requires recyclers to carefully remove and collect specific known toxic substances, such as mercury, before materials are broken down.

• Special care is taken to remove contaminants to prevent them from entering landfills and leaching toxic chemicals into soil and water.

• Recycling electronics protects the environment from lead and cadmium contamination.

Recycling metal reduces the need to mine for ore, which conserves limited natural resources and prevents degradation of land. By reducing the amount of solid waste being sent to landfills, recycling also helps preserve natural habitats for wildlife.

Conservation:

Preventing Toxic Contamination:

Environmental Benefits: Recycling is sustainable development; recycling used materials and products reduces greenhouse gases, uses significantly less energy, maximizes the use of finite natural resources, and diverts material from landfills. Recycled metals offer particular environmental benefits compared to mining virgin material, and because metals do not degrade during the recycling process, they are infinitely recyclable.

CO2 Savings: